Game Design Document Template

© 2003-2005, Written by Chris Taylor.

Updated, Web-ified, and packaged by Bil Simser

author contact:

http://members.shaw.ca/bsimser/webdesign/default.htm

bsimser@shaw.ca

Reprinted with permission

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Editor's Introduction:

What follows and is linked across several pages is a design template for defining a game design. The approach here is similar to a prospectus, that might be used to promote a game concept, but when applied correctly can also be an extremely useful tool for the designer/programmer to define their future creation.

I used this template, reduced a bit in areas, and added a little to the appendix, to define the design of the worbles simulation game that appears elsewhere in this newsletter. There is a lot here. You can pick and choose. Use what you need. Even add if you think it will help. This template is simply a place to start with helpful hints to jumpstart the thinking/planning stages of design.

I have reformatted the design document into a wikiwriter generated format suitable to the Liberty Basic Newsletter. You can get the original version in zip format from Bill's website: http://members.shaw.ca/bsimser/webdesign/default.htm









Design Web Site Documents for:

Name of Game

One Liner (e.g. The Ultimate Racing Game)

“Something funny here!”™

All work Copyright © 200x by Your Company Name

Written by Chris Taylor. Updated, Web-ified, and packaged by Bil Simser

Version 1.1

Tuesday, July 08, 2003

Table of Contents

Game Overview

Philosophy

Philosophical point #1

Philosophical point #2

Philosophical point #3


Common Questions


What is the game?

What are the goals of the game?

Why create this game?

Who is this game for?

Where does the game take place?

What do I control?

How many characters do I control?

What is the main focus?

What’s different?

Feature Set

General Features

Multiplayer Features

Editor

Gameplay

The Game World

Overview

World Feature #1

World Feature #2

The Physical World


Overview

Key Locations

Travel

Scale

Objects

Weather

Day and Night

Time


Rendering System


Overview

2D/3D Rendering


Camera


Overview

Camera Detail #1

Camera Detail #2


Game Engine


Overview

Game Engine Detail #1

Water

Collision Detection


Lighting Models


Overview

Lighting Model Detail #1

Lighting Model Detail #2

The World Layout

Overview

World Layout Detail #1

World Layout Detail #2

Game Characters

Overview

Creating a Character

Enemies and Monsters

User Interface

Overview

User Interface Detail #1

User Interface Detail #2

Weapons

Overview

Weapons Details #1

Weapons Details #2

Musical Scores

Overview

Red Book Audio

Sound Effects

3D Sound

Sound Design

Single Player Game

Overview

Single Player Game Detail #1

Single Player Game Detail #2

Story

Hours of Gameplay

Victory Conditions

Multi-Player Game

Overview

Max Players

Servers

Customization

Internet

Gaming Sites

Persistence

Saving and Loading

Character Rendering

Overview

Character Rendering Detail #1

Character Rendering Detail #2

World Editing

Overview

World Editing Detail #1

World Editing Detail #2

Extra Stuff

Overview

Junk I am working on…


Crazy Idea #1

Crazy Idea #2

Appendix

XYZ Appendix

Objects Appendix

User Interface Appendix

Networking Appendix

Character Rendering and Animation Appendix

Story Appendix